If I don’t have wisdom, I can teach you only ignorance. | |
— Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | First Ask For Courage |
Shadows And Darkness | |
2020 | My 2 Cents |
You Do It | |
Must Be Why I Like Dreamin’ | |
2019 | The Opening Step |
Day 17/18: That Didn’t Take Long | |
2018 | I’ll Trade You… |
2017 | Luv Me Some Meat Loaf |
2016 | Unless Your Name Is #AmnestyDon |
2015 | A Tentative First Step |
2014 | Making People |
2013 | On Reading Books |
2012 | On America |
2011 | Shiver, Me Timbers! |
2010 | Fiduciary Breakdown |
Posts Tagged ‘Teaching’
Teaching
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Dr. Leo F. Buscaglia, Ignorance, Philosophy, Quotes, Teaching, Wisdom on September 15, 2022| Leave a Comment »
Learning And Teaching
Posted in Career, Disclaimer, Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, Work, tagged Disclaimer, Dr. Richard P. Feynman, Education, Frankfurt, Germany, Great Teachers, Learning, NCO Academy, Performance Oriented Training, Philosophy, POTs Training Technique, Quotes, Teaching, Work on November 1, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Feynman Learning Technique: | |
1) Take a piece of paper and write the concept’s name at the top. | |
2) Explain the concept using simple language (show examples to demonstrate you know how the concept works) | |
3) Identify problem areas in your explanation or examples and then go back to the sources to review the material / concept | |
4) Pinpoint any complicated terms and challenge yourself to simplify them. | |
Several days ago, I posted a quote and made a comment about excellence in teaching. (Why We Have So Few Personal Favorites ) Basically, my proposition was that it is extremely difficult to evaluate the competence and productivity of a teacher because of the number of variables and an inability to control them to a point sufficient to determine what are the tools we could provide the “most effective” teachers to make them better (or any teachers for that matter). | |
I never gave much thought about teaching until I joined the Army and they insisted I learn, participate in and practice “Performance Oriented Training” (POTs training) when I attended the NCO Academy in Frankfurt, Germany. Essentially, POTs stipulates that until the student can perform the task, the training has not been effective. There were three elements: 1) the instructor demonstrates the task to be performed / explaining the objective of the task, the reason for the task, and each step necessary to complete the task; 2) the instructor then walks / talks the student through each step as they (the student) follows along with each step; and, 3) the instructor asks the student to perform the task independently. If the student fails in performance (step 3), the instructor must return to element 2. Re-cycle through elements 2 and 3 until 3 can be accomplished independently. At that point, the student can perform the task and the training has been effective. (Of course long term retention of the knowledge / skill is a different matter.) | |
This training methodology served me very well during my working life / career as I was frequently called upon to instruct on topics in the military, and then as a civilian: from credit card fraud prevention, to correspondent banking, to numerous Information Technology topics (basic trouble-shooting, using spreadsheets, using word processing applications, server and network administration, setting up databases, conducting data analysis and creating web pages to display the analysis / data). | |
Rather late in my career, I “discovered” (i.e. read about) Dr Richard P. Feynman (PhD) and his personal learning methodology. Post-employment (i.e. in retirement), I’ve now watched bits and pieces of Professor Feynman’s lectures (on YouTube) and I believe his methodology is a civilian / academic equivalent of personal POTs training. That is: how we should expect to teach ourselves and verify our own knowledge / competency in a subject. I shudder to think of the number of lectures / classes / training sessions I’ve attended where the instructor either did not have this level of personal expertise or expect the student to demonstrate understanding at the end of the session. Which, (again) is why we remember our few “great” teachers over our lifetimes. | |
Disclaimer: The list of four steps above are available in several books and on the web and the exact wording is neither mine nor exclusive to any specific source so I have not bothered to cite any “original” source. I apologize in advance if anyone reading this feels I have used their exact language describing Dr. Feynman’s technique. | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Learning And Teaching |
Two Loves | |
2020 | Does Anyone Else Look Forward To The Last Lawn Mowing ‘Til Spring? |
Only For You | |
2019 | 10,000 Tries |
2018 | Keep America Great – Vote This Tuesday |
2017 | Old Style Ear Candy |
2016 | Next Tuesday |
2015 | Wanna Trade? |
2014 | Brothers And Friends |
2013 | So Suddenly |
2012 | At The Center |
2011 | Live Long And Thinner |
Got Health? | |
2010 | SF Giants – 2010 World Series Champions!!! |
52 – 54 – 56 – 58 | |
2009 | Diet Update |
Pictures from Chicago Trip… | |
Why We Have So Few Personal Favorites
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Competence, Education, Performance, Peter Drucker, Philosophy, Quotes, Teachers, Teaching, Tools on October 28, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Teaching is the only major occupation of man for which we have not yet developed tools that make an average person capable of competence and performance. In teaching we rely on the ‘naturals’, the ones who somehow know how to teach. | |
— Peter Drucker | |
[One of the few times I don’t agree with Drucker… I believe we rely on ‘willing to’ rather than ‘naturals’ to become teachers and then hope most rise to a level of competence and performance. First, I’m not convinced “average” people are capable of being competent teachers. I don’t think the ability to teach academic subjects is a skill the average person has. I do believe that everyone can teach “some” things – just not academic topics, and certainly not at all levels. Second, I believe “tools” make most people better at “some” things, but do not necessarily make average people competent or able to perform in academic areas. I’m not convinced tools necessarily make a below-average (whatever that is) person average (whatever that is); just better than they might have been otherwise. Third, I’m not convinced we have adequate testing methodologies to rate an academic teacher’s competence and / or performance. Students are living beings and not subject to controlled experiments as inputs or as outputs. The “best” we can do is use statistics to estimate student competence / performance under very limited circumstances and, therefore, the results of the comparisons may or may not be widely applicable across wider groups in society. Even the world’s greatest high school math teacher may not be good (or average) in a grammar school or at a university, let alone at another high school or in other subjects. Finally, we believe we can use standardized tests to measure the students performance and, therefore, “measure / determine” a teacher’s competence. This is an assumption which may or may not be valid. In any case, my understanding is that social / economic banding is the most common important factor for economic progress / success. This banding has very little to do with an individual teacher’s ability or a student’s performance. The same teacher can teach multiple siblings at the same school and still end up with a wide variance of sibling performance success. — kmab] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Why We Have So Few Personal Favorites |
I Would Have Liked You Anyway | |
2020 | Why We Must Vote #45 Out |
If You Believe | |
2019 | Sometimes I Still Have Trouble Sleeping |
Public Ridicule For Office Holder | |
2018 | And Flights Of Fancy |
Dodgers Lose 2nd Consecutive World Series!! | |
2017 | By Their Acts Thy Shall Know Them |
2016 | Remembering |
2015 | One |
2014 | Sure Experiments And Demonstrated Arguments |
2013 | Irrational Complacency |
2012 | Why Criticize? |
Giants Sweep 2012 World Series With Game 4 Win (4 To 3)!!! | |
2011 | Saying Just Enough |
2010 | Giants Win Game 2 Shutout of Rangers – 9 to 0!!! |
How Learning Infections Begin
Posted in Education, Music, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Children, Education, Learning, Leonard Bernstein, Music, Philosophy, Quotes, Teaching on August 29, 2021| Leave a Comment »
We destroy our children’s songs of existence by giving them inhibitions, teaching them to be cynical, manipulative, and all the rest of it… You become hardened, but you can find that playfulness again. We’ve got to find a way to get music and kids together, as well as to teach teachers how to discover their own love of learning. Then the infectious process begins. | |
— Leonard Bernstein | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | How Learning Infections Begin |
Stay Young At Heart | |
2020 | Policies Not People |
Just Thinking To Myself | |
2019 | Should I Start With My Religion? |
2018 | Fear And Hope |
Day 33: Good News & Prep | |
2017 | Directions |
2016 | Handle With Care |
2015 | Nothing But Pride |
2014 | Go |
2013 | Well, Does It? |
2012 | Near Misses Aren’t Successes |
2011 | Uncomfortable Feelings |
2010 | San Francisco (favorites)… |
Bullets or Butter? | |
Horticulture Anyone?
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Education, Flowers, Growing Plants, John W. Gardner, Philosophy, Quotes, Teaching on April 27, 2021| Leave a Comment »
Much education today is monumentally ineffective. All too often we are giving young people cut flowers when we should be teaching them to grow their own plants. | |
— John W. Gardner | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2020 | Heroes Die Too |
Front Update | |
Still More Hope Than Fact | |
2019 | The Ones Worth Remembering, Anyway |
Boot Edge Edge (My New T) | |
2018 | To Reach The Next Threshold |
2017 | Streaking Tales |
2016 | Singular Reality |
2015 | He Says It’s Hard To Get There From Here |
2014 | Question From A Founding Father |
2013 | Make Heroes |
2012 | See And Hold |
2011 | Am Not, Are So |
Have Republicans Figured Out Biden Won Yet?
Posted in History, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Abba Eban, Alternatives, History, Learning, Philosophy, Politics, Quotes, Teaching, Wisdom on January 8, 2021| Leave a Comment »
History teaches us that men and nations behave wisely once they have exhausted all other alternatives. | |
— Abba Eban | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2022 | Just That Strange Peace |
2021 | Have Republicans Figured Out Biden Won Yet? |
Sleepin’ On Your Doorstep | |
2020 | Careful About Myth Telling |
2019 | My Irish Diet |
Fighting With Oneself | |
2018 | Feeling Both |
2017 | Just Start |
2016 | Mirror, Mirror, On The Wall |
2015 | Restraint At The Inn |
2014 | To Not Discovering |
2013 | I Have Less To Say |
2012 | Not The Best Prediction I’ve Ever Read |
A Short Count
Posted in 2020 Book Review, Book Review, Education, Reading, Reviews, Science and Learning, tagged 2020 Book Review, A Million Seconds, Dr. Richard P. Feynman, Freakonomics, Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy And Its Consequences -- book review, John Allen Paulos, Malcolm Gladwell, Pseudo-Science, Stephen J. Dubner, Steven D. Levitt, Teaching, Temple University on June 6, 2020| Leave a Comment »
“Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy And Its Consequences” (1988©) — book review | |
Today’s book review is for: “Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy And Its Consequences“, written by John Allen Paulos. The book is an overview of what the author believes are some of the symptoms (and solutions) of “innumeracy” (the math equivalent of illiteracy) in America. Paulos is a Professor of maths at Temple University (or was at the time of the publication). He is a bit of a math prodigy (at the very least precocious) and is kind of a cross between Richard Feynman, Malcolm Gladwell and Levitt & Dubner. Feynman – as a teacher – in converting technical (math) concepts into relatable images, Gladwell in writing for “the general public” consumption, and Levitt & Dubner (of “Freakonomics” fame) in both of the above plus quirky examples to illustrate his point. | |
This book is a quick (fast read) and short (135 pages) overview of some main concepts in math and how they are poorly taught / translated / communicated to the general public and, hence, the general distaste for maths during school and its avoidance post-formal education whenever possible. | |
Paulos’ proposition is that because maths are poorly taught, the general public grows up with a fear (and avoidance) of math for the rest of lives. One of his proposals is to take retired advanced math users (mathematicians, engineers, scientists) and have them teach in schools because the current maths teachers aren’t very good (for a number of reasons) – pun intended. | |
The author also reviews math concepts: scale (big and little), fractions, ratios, statistics, probabilities and pseudo-sciences. This overview / review is the strength of the book as it reminded me of many of the areas of math I’ve long since forgotten (for lack of use). | |
So, is this book any good? Does it make you feel numerate or innumerate? Does it help with the issue raised (innumeracy)? Yes. Both. And, no, or at least I don’t think so. Once I could get past the author’s ego / superiority complex, I actually quite enjoyed the book. It is a fast read and he does use his examples in a clear and sometimes humorous fashion. The text made me feel numerate. The work through examples innumerate. A few of the paragraphs had to be re-read to make sure I followed the explanations for why he was doing a particular calculation. For example, how many days is a million seconds? The author says eleven-ish. So, then how long is a billion seconds? Again, thirty something years. Now, the author actually worked out the numbers and provided the answers. The problem? Well, for me, the answer is 11(-ish) thousand days. I would never arbitrarily convert days to years. Not that I couldn’t; just that I wouldn’t. Why would I, unless specifically asked? And, for most purposes, I would have ball-parked it (1,000 days is almost 3 years, times 11 is “about” 33 years). It would not be entirely accurate, but even then, the author didn’t state he was accounting for leap years in his own calculations. His point was we “all” know how much a second is. What we don’t know (have a feeling for) is how big a number is a billion (or a million). My point is I’m not sure if my reaction means I’m personally numerate or innumerate. And, finally, simply pointing out a problem isn’t the same as offering a viable solution. I don’t think placing retired math users in schools is a workable solution. Teaching (across all of the non-adult years) is an art as much as it is a skill. Yes, you must be grounded in the material, but you must also be enthusiastic (about the subject and teaching) and relatable. I’m not convinced there is a vast pool of retired engineers and scientists just dying to teach grammar, middle and high school students (and each group has different requirements). | |
Final recommendation: Strong to highly recommended. As an overview of maths topics for the general public, I think this is a very valuable book. It is brief and has interesting examples. It is probably too simple for folks with college level math skills. It is probably too difficult for the truly innumerate. But, I think there is a wide, flat(ish) bell shaped curve of folks out there (probably 2 standard deviations on either side of the mean) who would gain from reading this book. Those below the mean because the writing and examples are clear and can be followed along with. Those above the curve, because the book will remind you how much you’ve forgotten since leaving school. I just wish the author had been a bit less patronizing of us non-math prodigies. | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2019 | Don’t Forget: Fire Burns |
2018 | Especially In The Middle East |
2017 | A Good Local |
2016 | Life Unlimited |
2015 | Still Trying |
2014 | Destiny, n. |
2013 | No Apologies |
2012 | Utterly Convinced |
2011 | A Key To Effectiveness |
Accustomed To It
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, tagged Anthony De Mello, Philosophy, Quotes, Teaching, Truth, Turning 45 on May 30, 2019| 2 Comments »
“I wish to become a teacher of the Truth.” | |
“Are you prepared to be ridiculed, ignored and starving till you are forty-five?” | |
“I am. But tell me: What will happen after I am forty-five?” | |
“You will have grown accustomed to it.” | |
— Anthony De Mello | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2018 | Booking My Trip Into The Expanding Universe |
2017 | Fear Instead Of Convictions |
2016 | Memorial Day – 2016 |
2015 | A Handful Of Reviews |
And You Can Quote Me | |
2014 | Get Wisdom |
2013 | Enjoying The View? |
2012 | Adam’s Rib |
2011 | I’m Sure I Remember That… |
Memorial Day, 2011 | |
Gratitude And Warmth
Posted in Education, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Carl Gustav Jung, Carl Jung, Children, Curriculum, Education, Gratitude, Human Feelings, Philosophy, Quotes, Teaching on September 11, 2018| Leave a Comment »
One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child. | |
— Carl Gustav Jung | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Current Heroes (II) |
Glued To The TV – 3,000 Miles Away | |
2020 | Current Heroes |
I’m Mid-West Born, But California Raised | |
Appropriated To Her Being | |
2019 | All In Good Time |
Day 13: Pause & Resume | |
Ghrelin And Leptin | |
2018 | Gratitude And Warmth |
Remembering Loss, Sacrifice And Service | |
Making Little Ones Out Of Bigger Ones | |
2017 | Never Forget |
2016 | It’s All Greek To Me (Well, Latin Actually) |
2015 | Truism |
2014 | Thank You |
2013 | Really |
2012 | Ordinary Five Minutes Longer |
2011 | The Wealth Of Sons (And Daughters) |
Shedding Light
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Knowledge, Philosophy, Quotes, Romain Rolland, Teaching on July 15, 2017| Leave a Comment »
If a man is to shed the light of the sun upon other men, he must first of all have it within himself. | |
— Romain Rolland | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2016 | The Responsibility Of Freedom |
2015 | Face It |
Birdfight | |
2014 | Honoring Firefighters |
2013 | And Never Will |
2012 | The Human Adventure Continues |
2011 | Almost Never |
Reinforced Learning
Posted in Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Joseph Joubert, Learning, Quotes, Teaching on April 11, 2017| Leave a Comment »
To teach is to learn twice. | |
— Joseph Joubert | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2016 | I Choose To Believe |
2015 | What They Don’t Teach You At School |
2014 | Still Trying To Die (5) |
2013 | Honest Doubt |
2012 | Choice |
2011 | Ownership Of Thought |
Nothing Is Known Absolutely
Posted in Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Doubt And Uncertainty, Dr. Richard P. Feynman, Philosophy, Quotes, Rules Of Evidence, Science, Teaching on October 30, 2014| 4 Comments »
Science is a way to teach how something gets to be known, what is not known, to what extent things are known (for nothing is known absolutely), how to handle doubt and uncertainty, what the rules of evidence are, how to think about things so that judgments can be made, how to distinguish truth from fraud, and from show. | |
— Richard P. Feynman | |
Quoted by James Gleick, in his book: “Genius“ | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Sustainable Development |
Duke, Duke, Duke | |
2020 | #IncompetentDonald Is A Clear And Present Danger |
VOTE – “We The People” Can Save America | |
2019 | Why #45 Is Fated To Endanger Our National Security |
2018 | Dehydrated |
Dehydrated II | |
2017 | And Some Of Us Have Books |
2016 | I See No Proof |
2015 | Whither Tea Party? |
2014 | Nothing Is Known Absolutely |
2013 | Decoration Time |
2012 | The Beatitudes |
2011 | Good Fences Make Good Neighbors |
2010 | Back On The Asphalt |
No Sweep – Rangers Win Game 3 by 4 to 2 | |
Greek Myths For Kids | |
Nurture Tolerance
Posted in Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Science and Learning, tagged Education, http://thebambooprinciple.wordpress.com, Learning, Other Blogs, Philosophy, Quotes, Teaching, The Bamboo Principle on November 6, 2013| Leave a Comment »
…What drove me to teach were two sparks. The spark in a student’s eye when they grasped their way with confidence; and the spark in my eye when a student revealed a different perspective to mine. That’s why I loved being an English teacher. It was all about sharing different interpretations, perspectives and nuances that lay within a landscape of words speaking truths only made real in someone else’s mind. My role was to enable that thought freedom and to nurture tolerance. My job was to allow people unique views in on the worlds we studied each day and for my eyes to be widened by their perspective. Learning happened all round and, if I ever did my job right, on all levels too. | |
— From a blog I follow: “The Bamboo Principle“, located at: http://thebambooprinciple.wordpress.com/ |
|
The specific post was: http://thebambooprinciple.wordpress.com/2013/10/08/a-job-of-it/ |
|
[Another great blog to check out if you haven’t already… And, yes, back in 2010, I still didn’t know about scheduling posts. In a way, it’s nice to be reminded we’re all beginners at some point. — kmab] | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | Fighting New Guitar Fever |
Bad Trades In The Tunnel | |
2020 | Give And Gain |
Can We Talk For A Second | |
Almost Ready To Take A Breath | |
2019 | Transfiguration |
2018 | 2018 Mid-Terms |
Praying For A Blue Tsunami Election | |
2017 | Islam Is Not The Enemy |
2016 | A Checkered Past, A Checkered Future |
2015 | Preferences |
2014 | Have You Taken The Pledge? |
2013 | Nurture Tolerance |
2012 | Election Day – Please Hear What I’m Not Saying |
2011 | Mostly Strange, Always Blue |
What Is It You Want? | |
2010 | MSNBC, Bring Back Keith !!! |
Value.. | |
Worse Still… | |
Afraid So… | |
Making It | |
Don’t Jump Small | |
Time | |
Push!! | |
I’m Still Here… (A Message To Keith Olbermann) | |
Choose | |
Not Yet… | |
Mean Too | |
Still Building (and Planning) | |
Hangin’ High | |
Always… | |
What Is Your Canvas?
Posted in Leadership, Quotes, Sports, tagged American Football Coach, Bill Walsh, Leadership, Quotes, Sports, Teaching, The Score Takes Care of Itself on October 20, 2011| Leave a Comment »
Looking back, perhaps the lesson I would draw is this: If you don’t love it, don’t do it. I loved it — teaching people how to reach in deep to fulfill their potential, how to become great. And when you do that with a group, you, as the leader, enjoy the thrill of creating a great team. For me it was like creating a work of art. Only instead of painting on a canvas, I had the great joy of creating in collaboration with others. | |
— Bill Walsh | |
From his book: “The Score Takes Care Of Itself“ | |
. | |
On This Day In: | |
2021 | And / Or A Profound Falsehood |
Feel A Draft? | |
2020 | Trust But Verify |
I Search For Light | |
#CryBabyDonald Is Too Human | |
2019 | With Faith |
2018 | Spiritual Matter |
2017 | Until He’s Elected President… |
2016 | Reasonable Discounts |
2015 | Poem For A Friend |
2014 | A Very Unusual Mind |
2013 | Just Lucky |
2012 | The Undeveloped Child |
2011 | What Is Your Canvas? |
2010 | Giants Win Games 3 & 4 – One Away From World Series!! |